Rotary folding mechanism



Sept. 14, 1937. E. w. DEAN ROTARY FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 13, 1936' INVENTOR. Zb/m/w W flaw/v L 4 1 I 3 w 4' W ATTORNEY5 Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE 2,093,235 ROTARY FOLDING MECHANISM Edmund W. Dean, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application August 13, 1936, Serial Nb. 95,762

6 Claims.

' of the folding mechanism for one speed of the press and folder is not satisfactory fora different speed. This is due in part to the inertia of the paper as it is carried along the folding cylinder. I have found that when the press and folder are running at slow speed, it is desirable to advance the position of the tucker blades with reference to the folding cylinder, while when the press is operating at a higher speed it is desirable to move the tucker blades back along the direction of rotation of the folding cylinder.

The objects of the present invention are,

First, to provide means which will automatically position the tucker blades with reference to the folding cylinder so as to properly fold the paper for different speeds of the press and folder.

Second, to provide such an apparatus which is controlled by the speed of rotation of the cylinder.

Third, to provide such an apparatus in which the centrifugal force created by rotation of the cylinder is employed to effect adjustment.

Fourth, to provide such an apparatusthat is simple and inexpensive and'most effective.

Objects pertaining to details of construction and operation will appear from the description. The invention is defined in the claims. A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 is an end view partly in section showing my improved rotary folding mechanism. M

Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing one end of my folding mechanism, taken on 'line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Referring to the drawing, I is the folding cylinder. 2, 2 are nipper rolls for creasing the paper as it passes from the press to the folder. 3, 3 are 7 the .pins for carrying the paper around the cylinder, and 4, 4 are the folding rolls which form the half page fold in the finished newspaper. The folding cylinder I is mounted on a shaft 5 with a press fit, as at 6, and the shaft 5 is journaled in the frame 'I for rotation. A plate 8 is mounted at the end of each cylinder and similar intermediate plates maybe provided. Theplate 8 is arranged for rotation with the cylinder and carries a bearing 9 in which are journaled shafts Ill carrying rotary tucker blades II and gears I2 which are in mesh with the internal gear I3 for rotating the tucker blades as the cylinder and plate are rotated, the tucker blades II' tucking the newspaper between the rolls 4. In the appa:

ratus shown rotation of the cylinder I is in a clock-wise'direction, viewed in Fig. 1.

On the edgeof the plate 8 are gear teeth I4. A shaft I5extends through the cylinder substantially parallel with the axis thereof and has gear teeth I6 at its end in mesh with the gear teeth I4 on the'plate 8. Rotation of the shaft I5 will adjust the position ofthe plate 8with reference to the cylinder I. Rotationof the shaft I5 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. '1,

will advance the tucker blades along the'direction of rotation of the cylinder, whereas a clockwise movement of the shaft I5, as viewed in Fig. 1, will move the tucker blades back along the line of rotation. The shaft I5 may be provided with gear teeth for actuating other plates, such as the plate 8, there being one at each end of the cylinder and intermediate plates if desired..

A crank arm I1 is fixed on theshaft I5 for rotating the shaft. A pivoted arm I8 is provided, pivoted ata point I9 spaced from the shaft I5 I have shown the pivoted arm l8 pivoted to a collar with machine screw 2I, the collar 20 being fixed on the shaft 5 to rotate therewith. The pivoted arm I8 has its free end 22 freeto move toward or away from the periphery 23 of the cylinder I. A link 24 is pivoted to the free end 25 of the crank arm I'I'with machine screw 26, and is pivoted at its other end to the free end 22 of the arm I8 by means of a machine screw 21. A weight 28 is mounted on the free end 22. of the arm I8.

A spring 29. surrounds the shaft [5. One end 38 of the spring is fixedto the cylinder 'I and the other end is fixed to a collar 3| which is fixed by a set screw 32 on the shaft I5. The spring is so disposed that it normally tends to urge the shaft I5 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, which tends to advance the tucker blades I I along the line of rotation of the cylin'- der I and tends to move the arm I8 and the crank arm I! and the link 24 to the position shown in.

full lines in Fig. 3, with the weight 28 held away from the periphery of the cylinder-I.

The operationof the device is as follows: When thepr inter sets up a job onthe press, heordinarily runs it at a slow spee d to make sure that everything is functioning properly. At this speed, in order to properly fold the papers coming from the press, it is desirable to have the tucker blades advance along the direction of ro- 0 tation of the cylinder I. When everything is running properly the press is speeded up and it is then desirable to move the tucker blades back along the line of rotation of the cylinder I with reference to the cylinder. This is accomplished automatically in my device because, as the press speeds up, the weight 28 is thrown outwardly toward the periphery of the cylinder l by centrifugal force. This pulls the crank arm I! and rotates the shaft 15, moving the tucker blades as described.

In'Fig. 3 I illustrate in dotted lines one position taken by the pivoted arm N3, the crank arm H, the link 24, and the weight 28, at a given speed of the. press. It will be appreciated that for different speeds the centrifugal forcewill position the various parts'in different positions, and as the speed increases the weight 28 moves farther outtoward the periphery of the cylinder. It will thus be apparent that for all speeds the tucker blades will be properly positioned to produce a properly folded finished newspaper.

I have shown my improvements in the form preferred, but it is clear that'modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I desire to claim the same broadly as well as specifically, as pointed out in the appended claims. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame for rotation, plates associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, a shaft in said cylinder substantially parallel to the axis thereof, gearing between said shaft and said plates. for angularly adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, means to automatically shift said plates under control of the speed of rotation of said cylinder, comprising a crank arm on said shaft, an arm pivoted in said cylinder at a point spaced from said shaft and having a free end movable toward or away from the periphery of said cylinder, a

weight on the free end-of said arm, a link having one end pivoted to the free end of said pivoted arm and the other end pivoted to the free end of said crank arm, a spring surrounding said shaft having one end fixed to said cylinder and the other end fixed to said shaft,.and being so dis posed as to tend to rotate'said shaft'to oppose movement of said weight toward the periphery of said cylinder caused by centrifugal force during rotation of the cylinder and to advance said plates relative to the direction of rotation of the cylinder. v

2. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said; frame for rotation, plates associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, a

oted arm and the other end pivoted 'to the free end of said crank arm, a spring so disposed as to tend to rotate said shaft to oppose movement of said Weight toward the periphery of said cylinder caused by centrifugal force during rotation of the cylinder.

3. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame for rotation, plates associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, a shaft in said cylinder substantially parallel to the axis thereof, gearing between saidshaft'and said platesfor angularly adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, means toautomatically shift said plates under. control'of the speed of rotationof said cylinder, comprising a crank arm on said shaft, an arm pivoted in said cylinder at a point spaced from said shaft and having a free end movable toward or away from the periphery of said cylinder, a link having one end pivoted to the free end ofsaid pivoted arm and the other end pivoted to the free end of said crank arm, a weight operatively connected to said pivoted arm to cause said arm to swing toward the periphery of said cylinder under" the effect of centrifugal force ofsaidweightdurtherewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, a shaft in said cylinder substantially parallel to the axis thereof, gearing between said shaft and said plates for angularly'adjusting the position of said plates with reference to said cylinder, means to automatically shift said plates under control of the speed of rotation of said cylinder, a weight operatively connected to said crank arm to cause movement thereof under, the effect of centrifugal force exerted by said weight during rotation of said cylinder, and aspring so disposed as to tend to rotate said shaft to oppose movement of said weight toward the periphery of said cylinder causedby centrifugal force during rotation of the cylinder.

5. In a folding apparatus of the class described, 4

the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame for rotation, plates associated with. said cylinder for rotation therewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, and means to automatically shift said plates under control of the speed of rotation of said cylinder.

6. In a folding apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary folding cylinder journaled in said frame for rotation, plates associated with said cylinder for rotation therewith, said plates carrying rotary tucker blades, and means operated by centrifugal force to automatically shift said plates under control of the speed of rotation of said cylinder.

EDMUND W. DEAN. 

